Automatic blowtorch



L. L. LASHER July 10, 1934.

AUTOMATIC BLowToRcH Filed NOV. 16, 1.929 `3 SheGtS-Sheet l Hummm "mm1 fr? ver? for her- l.. j f yLAsr-nia "J/ AUTOMATIC BLOWTORCH Filed Nov.

16, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July l0, 1934. L. L AsHER AUTOMATIC BLowToRcH 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 16, 1929 Potente@ july EG, i934 l Leccese An'rom'rrc BLowronon Lester lL. Lasher, Beachmont, Mass., assigner to S. C. Brody, Brookline, Mass.

Application November 16, 1929, Serial No. 407,632

d Claims. (C11. l58-35) This invention relates to automatic blow torches, and particularly to an automatic blow torch using alcohol for fuel.

Such torches, as usually constructed, are either (l) of the double barrel type, in which case the pressure cylinder, and the lamp cylinder Whose function it is to bathe in llame the gooseneck of the pressure cylinder while the torch is in operation, are constructed as distinct and independ-y 9 ent borrels adjustably clamped to each other; or (2) oi the single barrel type, in which case both the pressure cylinder and the lamp cylinder are immovably fined in their proper combinative relation by being built together in a common casing )l5 or body unit.

Although both types oi torch are well-lmown in the trede and lieve been the subject o numerous patents, they are open to the common objection 9 that itis necessary to keep the lamp cylinder cone@ stantly lighted and its name playing directly and continuously on the gooseneck oi the pressure cylinder while the torch is in operation inv order to generate sumcient pressure in the pressure cylluder to produce the reducing iet at the gooseneck orlhce. With each type or torch, therefore, care must be taken that the name from the lamp cylinder shall at ell times and under all conditions end in all positions of use of the torch be conra tinuously played directly on the gcoseneck tube 3@ in order that the torch may continue to operate.

Where operating conditions are unfavorable, as where the torch must be held in an abnormal position or the work is inconveniently acssible, the heme of the lamp cylinder will not directly ploy on the gooseneck tube, and the torch will not operate at maximum eiiiciency. The same is true where the torch is being operated in the open or in a draughty room and hence is necessarily subject to the vagaries oi' the wind, with the re- 4@ sult that the heme from the lamp cylinder is liahle to be temporarily blown away from the goosed Y neck tube or even to be wholly extinguished.

iside from this disadvantage, however, the' au= tometic blow torch oi either type, es heretofore @i constructed, hes been open to the further obiecw tion that in its necessity for keeping the lamp cylinder continuously lighted while the torch is at work, e considerable quantity ofiuel'is consumed. This iuel is contained inthe lamp cylinder itself, 5@ which must therefore be or sumcient size to serve es a reservoir ier an adequate supply or fuel. Y

Although as a result of this condition, the lamp cylinder or the dcublefberrel torch is made oi generous size, being in rect usually .of the same sire es the premure cylinder, and although such lamp cylinder is capable of adjustment longitudinally of the pressure cylinder, it was not possible to take advantage of the generous size and adjustable character of the lamp cylinder and utilize the lamp cylinder' as an extended handle in 60 operating the torch, because of the necessity for keeping the ilame end of such cylinder at all times in immediate association with the gooseneck tube of the pressure cylinder. In fact, with the single barrel torch, it is customary-to provide the torch with a deilnite handle as such in order to facilitate manipulating the torch.

ln either type of torch, the lamp cylinder was, therefore, an element of but single function, such function being to supply continuously and at all times the heating ilame for the gooseneck tube, and lo order that it might fulll this function efciently it was necessary that the ilame end of the lamp cylinder be positioned suiliciently close. to the gooseneck as directly to bathe the goose- .75 neck with the heat llame in all positions of use or the torch.

Single barrel torches using gasolene for fuel have been made and sold which could be primed or started by means of a candle or matches, or by 8G' l extra supply or fuel with him in order toiill the priming cup or pan instorting the torch.

To the end therefore of avoiding theseseveral objections to automatic blow torches as heretotore constructed, I have devised my present invention. According to it, I avoid the necessity for keeping the gooseneck tube continuously and directly 'bathed in the heating flame from the lamp cylinder once the torch is primed and the pressure cylinder delivering its reducing jet.

With my torch, the flame from the lamp cylinder is a priming or starting flame usedonly when the torch is started rather than a continuously operating heating flame which must be played directlyzonthe gooseneck not only in starting 10o the torch but continuously thereafter so long as the torch is in operation. This permits me to extinguish the primingilame as soon as the torch is stard, and thereafter to use the lamp cylinder os an adjustable Vhandle for manipulating the lighted torch, with resultant saving in fuel consumption. inasmuch as the priming name may he immediately extinguished once the torch is lighted, all liability of sudden draughts blowing no reservoir which may be drawn upon should the fuel supply in the pressure cylinder become exhausted at an inconvenient occasion.

With my torch, therefore the lamp cylinder is an element or unit of triple function in that it d is (1) a primer or starter in starting the torch,

(2) an extension handle in the subsequent manipulation of the lighted torch, and (3) a reserve reservoir for fuel at all times.

The principles of my inventions, are applicable to the several well-known types of automatic blow-torch now on the market, and as illustrative of the many adaptations which may be made, I have shown several characteristic embodiments thereof in the accompanying drawings.

Referring to such drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a double-barreled automatic blow torch in accordance with my invention, and showing the parts in their priming or starting position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts in one of the numerous positions to whichvthey may be adjusted after the torch has been primed, the fiame of the lamp cylinder having been extinguished and the lamp cylinder being now used as a manipulating handle for the lighted torch.

Fig. 3 is an elevation showing only the pressure-generating cylinder and parts carried thereby, the torchvbeing lighted, and this view illustrating graphically the complete-independence of the generating cylinder from the lamp cylinder.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the torch shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a cross-section through Fig. 4 on approximately the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section through the burner tube and gooseneck and showing a modification.

Fig. 'I is an elevation of a torch of single barrel type modified in accordance with my invention, the adjustable lamp cylinder unit with which such torch may be equipped being shown as adjusted to a position wherein it affords an extended manipulating handle for the lighted torch.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section through the torch of Fig. 7 but showing the adjustable lamp cylinder as adjusted to its starting or priming position with reference to the gooseneck tube.

Fig. 9 is a cross section through Fig. 8 on approximately the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an elevation showing a still further possible modification for a torch of the single barrel type, and

Fig. 11 is a vertical section through the torch of Fig. 10.

Referring rst to the double-barrel type of torch shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, I have indicated at 1 a lamp cylinder and at 2 a pressure cylinder which are detachably and adjustably connected to eachother as at 3 by a spring clamp which permits said barrels to be detached from each other when desired and to be either slid or rotated relative to each other.

The lower end of the lamp cylinder 1 is closed by a removable cap 4 and its upper end by a removable cap 5. 'I'hese caps may be threaded to engage corresponding screw threads formed on the barrel adjacent its ends.

'I'he lamp cylinder is filled with fuel through its lowerend, and when occasion demands such fuel may be withdrawn at said lower end. The upper end of the barrel is closed by a relatively short section of wick 6 which affords a priming or starting fiame.

Inasmuch as the wick of the lampv cylinder is ignited only in starting the torch and the starting or priming ame F (Fig. 1) furnished by such wick is thereafter immediately extinguished and remains extinguished duringthe operation ofthe torch, the wick 6 need be only a short section, filling only a comparatively trivial portion of the flame cylinder and thus allowing unusual space within the cylinder for the storage of fuel.

The lower end of the pressure cylinder 2 is closed by a removable screw cap '1 and this cylinder is filled with fuel through this end. At its upper end, the pressure cylinder is closed by a sleeve cap 8 soldered or otherwise fixed thereto, said cap 8 anchoring the inner end of a gooseneck tube 9.

The gooseneck tube 9 is filled with any suitable wicking 10 extending into the fuel in the pressure cylinder, and at its outer end is formed to receive a jet plug 11, having a jet orifice 12 (Fig. 4). The plug 11 may be mounted in the gooseneck in any desired manner, as by the screw threaded connection 13 shown in Fig. 4 wherein the plug is represented as being externally threaded to screw into a corresponding series of internal threads on the gooseneck. Both gooseneck and plug are of some relatively good heat conductive material, as brass. The upper end of the wick 10 of the gooseneck terminates short of the adjacent face of the jet plug 11, affording a vapor space 10a and the iet plug itself is chambered, as indicated at 11a, also to afford a vapor space, the vapor spaces 10a and 11a thus provided permitting the vapor to be pre-heated when the torch is in operation.

My invention involves the concept of a burner tube of material of good heat conductivity applied to the outer end of the gooseneck tube 9 in such manner as to afford an uninterrupted heat conductor to the gooseneck tube whereby once the torch is started, a reducing flame R (Figs. 2 and 3) is continuously emitted from the gooseneck even after the starting ame F from the lamp cylinder is extinguished.

The burner tube is indicated at 14 and is a simple length of brass or other material of good heat conducting property, perforated as at 15 to assist combustion, and over the wick 6 of the fiame cylinder opened as at 16. It is detachably secured at its inner end to the gooseneck in any desired manner. As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the inner end 'of the burner tube is enlarged as at 17 and sleeved over the outer end of the gooseneck. The sleeve 17 extends well back of the jet orifice 12 of the plug 1l and is internally threaded to engage external threads on the outer end of the gooseneck, as generally indicated at 18.

In Fig. 6, I show a modification in which the burner tube 14 and jet plug 11 are formed in one piece, preferably with a hexagonal or otherwise shaped intermediate portion 11a by means of which the unit may be screwed into the gooseneck tube 9.

In both this form and the form of Figs. 1 to 5, the unit affords an unbroken or uninterrupted path for the conduction of the heat to a point well beyond the jet oriiice of the plug.

In both forms, moreover, it will be noted that the operation of screwing the burner tube onuor oil' the gooseneck results in ascraping or cutting therein, said priming unit being detachably and adjustably connected with the pressure generating unit so that said wick may be brought into operative relationship with said wick tube and combustion burner for priming purposes, and said combustion burner having a screw-thread connection with said pressure generating unit whereby after combustion occurs in the combustion burner and the priming unit has been extinguished a reducing ilame is produced through the now self-generating torch.

4. In an automatic self-generating blow torch, a pressure generating unit comprising a pressure reservoir adapted to contain a liquid fuel, a wick tube extending from said pressure reservoir and having a jet delivery opening, a combustion burner connected to said wick tube, a priming unit comprising a priming reservoir, said priming unit being detachably and adjustably connected with the pressure generating unit so that said priming unit may be brought into operative relationship with said wick tube and combustion burner and said combustion burner having a connection with said pressure generating unit whereby after combustion occurs in the combustion burner and the priming unit has been extinguished a reducing ame is produced through the now self-generattherein, said primingunit being adjustably connected with the pressure generating unit so that said wick may be brought into operative relationship with said wick tube and combustion burner and said combustion burner having a connection with said pressure generating unit which provides a continuous unbroken path for the transmission of heat from said combustion burn'er to a point back of the jet delivery opening whereby after combustion occurs in the combustion burner and the priming unit has been extinguished a reducing flame is produced through the now selfgenerating torch.

6. In an automatic self-generating blow torch, a pressure generating unit comprising a pressure reservoiradapted'to contain a liquid fuel, a wick tube extending from said pressure reservoir and having a jet delivery opening, a combustion burnerconnected to said wick tube, a priming unit comprising a priming reservoir, said priming unit being adjustably connected with the pressure generating unit so that ysaid priming unit may be brought into operative relationship with said wick tube and combustion burner for priming purposes'andsaid combustion burner having a connection with said pressure generating unit which provides a continuous unbroken path for the transmission'of heat from said combustion burner to a point back of the jet delivery opening where' by after combustion occurs in the combustion burner and the priming unit has been extinguished a reducing ilame is produced through the now self-generating torch.

LESTER L. LASHER. 

